Rs2b splurge by Sindh police weighs heavily on its officers

Proposal for the purchase of weapons and vehicles for special security awaits approval by CM.

KARACHI:

The VVIPs in Sindh might be able to sleep better at night due to the purchase of sophisticated weapons and vehicles worth Rs2 billion for the Special Security Unit but the rest of the police force can’t help but feel that the approval for the ‘extra’ budget could have been put to better use.

The proposal for the extra funds - reportedly the most extravagant order by the Sindh police ever - has already made its way to the Sindh chief minister’s office for approval while the families of more than 350 deceased police officials have been told that the department does not have the funds to provide them due compensation. At least 75 families of those officials killed in the line of duty last year have yet to receive Rs2 million each and families of the 300 policemen who died of natural causes are still waiting on Rs0.5 million each.



The police department also owes Rs100 million in the form of medical bills of the policemen who underwent treatment.

“We do not have the budget to provide the compensation but our correspondent with the government is in the process of releasing funds for this purpose,” said the Sindh police welfare department DIG, Abdullah Shaikh, refusing to comment any further.

Different versions

According to Sindh IGP Shahid Nadeem Baloch, the tender for the new weapons and vehicles had already been passed by the time he took charge. “I always give preference to the entire police department instead of one unit,” the IGP told The Express Tribune. “I am not a supporter of such luxurious purchases.”

According to sources, the summary has been approved by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and payment for about two dozens vehicles - including Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, BMW motorcycles and bulletproof Mercedes and V-8 Jeeps - and sophisticated weapons, has also been finalised.

The IGP, however, said that the proposal has yet to be approved.  He also clarified that the extra budget for SSU had no link with the police’s regular budget, which is meant for providing compensation to families and other purposes.

The SSU chief Maqsood Ahmed, on the other hand, straight off called the Rs2 billion proposal “misinformation”. “I can discuss the matter as it is confidential.”

According to an officer, who preferred to remain anonymous, weapons worth Rs250 million purchased last year for the SSU were already waiting for clearance from the customs. “At least that order should have been cleared before putting forward a new one.”

Sindh information minister, Sharjeel Memon, did not comment when asked about the approval of the proposal by the CM.

Feelings of resentment

“Karachi has become a warzone and the police do not even have the basic necessities, such as APCs, mobiles, bulletproof jackets and helmets while the government and the department continue to spend billions for VVIPs,” said a senior officer.



Families of the deceased officials have also become hopeless after visiting the police departments frequently and being told that there were no funds.

“My father was a brave man who lost his life save others’ lives,” said the son of a recently deceased policeman. “Even the mafia is better than the police as they at least look after the families of their own people.”

The feelings of neglect have also trickled down to the junior officials who feel that they the department’s priority should be to provide electricity, mobiles and APCs - especially at those 18 police stations which have been declared sensitive.

“There was a need for the Rs2 billion overdraft for giving money to the families of the martyrs and providing resources to the police department, not for more security for the VVIPs,” said a junior police official. “How can we work for the department with sincerity when we have been sidelined?” 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2013.